Crrepy dolls from our ZL's in Topeka...hahaha sooo funny!

I love Kansas skies!

Catherine, only member in her fam. Suuuper powerful visit
with her, reading the BOM

Sis Sorenson! We made scarves with her. Super fun and
has totally inspired me - I want to sew!

Buenos dias!! our new district will be all Spanish so I better start practicing

haha.

It was a good week! Very busy and flew by........ I am excited for a new

transfer but my mind is just blown. I literally feel like I got to Derby 3 days

ago. I don't even know how that just happened. 

As I was just telling mom.. I hope to at least see a tornado! I am in Kansas so

I better!!!  (Lot's of warnings over the weekend)

This week is transfers and Sister Hannah and I will both be staying another

transfer here in Derby. I am happy to have a new transfer and a fresh start

to work our hardest and to see miracles these next six weeks!!

We had a good week, minus the fact that all 3 of our investigators that

were preparing for baptism have kind of fell off the face of the earth....

We have faith that they will pick right up though and continue pressing

forward. It's a new week in the service of the Lord. We are going to work

harder and smarter and become more like the missionaries that the Lord

would have us become.

Here is a poem that I LOVED this past week:

"My life is but a weaving

Between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors

He worketh steadily.

Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow

And I in foolish pride,

Forget that He seeth the upper,

And I the under side.

Not till the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned."

(Anonymous)

Our Father in Heaven truly does have a plan for EACH of us. I know this to

be true. I know that it's hard to trust in Him but if and when we do that,

life is so simple. We are all on this path to prepare to return back to Him

and I am grateful for the restored gospel to help us get there. I know this

is His Church! I love you all.

Sister Smartt

ps I get to "see" you in just a few short weeks (via Skype of course)!! 

Kansas shirts-Sis McDermot, Sis Hannah, Sis Blood

The C.H.O.S.E.N District

Biking up a storm!!

Georgeous green fields - I love it!!

Sahar (most amazing recent convert ever!!!) and Sis Hannah!

Typical!

Dying Easter eggs with the Hood's!

Heart attacking Sis Swope for her bday!!

Happy Easter yesterday!!! What a treat celebrating the Resurrection of our Savior as a full time missionary. I was soooo happy and overwhelmed with gratitude yesterday. Also, happy anniversary to mom and dad tomorrow!! You old farts ;) But seriously you are both AMAZING and I could never repay you for all of your love/support/examples. Just know that I love you so sooso much and miss you both like crazy.

This past week Sister Hannah and I worked HARD. Holy cow it is the best feeling in the world knowing that we literally gave it our all for the Lord. We were on foot most of the week so that resulted in meeting tons of people, looots of walking, biking, and a real nice sun burn haha. Okay but probably the most ridiculous day was Friday. We had planned to bike out to check on this less active family that we hadn't met. From the address, we didn't think it was too far.. but we ended up biking like 12,000 miles. Maybe I am being dramatic but it was seriously the craziest adventure. And we loved it! Also we met the less active brother and he was super nice- built a relationship with him. He even showed us around his property, which he had built a legit mini train track that you can ride on!! It was sooooo cool. I freaking love Kansas hahaha.

Our numbers didn't show it but we worked sooo hard! And members were out with us so much, it was incredible. Our investigators are doing well! Megan's baptism will probably be pushed back a bit.. she was sick this past week so we haven't been able to teach her! And her fam was out of town for Easter so she wasn't able to come to church. Marilyn has surgery today on her foot and today was also her goal day of being ALL done with the cigs. Keep her in your prayers :) We  found 4 new investigators this week- 3 of which we had to hand off to the Spanish elders.. and then Austin (girl) is a sophomore in high school that we are meeting with tomorrow! Meeting her was a miracle and I knew that the Lord led us to her. It was one of those overwhelming missionary feelings of "ohh this is why I am out here." Those are my fave.

I am sooo not even kidding when I say that yesterday was the best Easter ever!!!! I loved it so much! All of the programs/lessons at both the ward and branch were amazing. And to top it all off, we had a fireside last night with President Bell. It was for investigators, recent converts, and less actives that we are working with. AMAZING. I seriously just couldn't stop crying because the Spirit was so strong and because I KNOW that this is the Church of Jesus Christ. Nothing is more powerful than hearing a testimony of one of our brothers and sisters that was lost and is now found. It was such a cool evening/testimony meeting all centered around the Atonement and our Savior.

"I believe in Christ, so come what may." 
We sang the hymn "I Believe in Christ" twice yesterday and this line was sticking out so strong to me. I love you all!

Sister Smartt

Still thinking about last weeks dinner - yup I ate it!

Playing with Sis Swope's gnomes...shhhhh

Gnomes

Subject: The field is WHITE, literally

I am super grateful I didn't end up sending that package home.... because this morning I had to pull out my winter coat/boots.. There's lots of white stuff out there!!! Kansas is seriously crazy. It was like 80 degrees a couple days ago. I love this place though, it's keeping me on my toes!

This past week was so great! There was a huge focus on pondering about general conference, what we learned, and helping members/investigators to apply it. Also, I just have to say how proud I am of good old Gilbert, AZ for getting 2 shout outs in conference! I can't wait to go to that temple someday.

Our investigators are doing really well! Marilyn is soo so awesome and is preparing to be baptized on May 17th. She came to a baptism with us on Saturday and was also at church on Sunday. Suuuper prepared. Something kind of crazy- She has been meeting with missionaries for almost a year now. A couple of months ago she was in a car accident which she now contributes it to being God's plan for her. Because of the accident, it freed up her schedule to study with us a ton and she was humbled to finally find out for HERSELF that the Church is true. And she has now received many witnesses for herself. The Lord works in mysterious ways!!

Megan is doing great as well. She has tons of friends in young womens and they have been super helpful. She also attended a baptism with us this Saturday and was at church! We hope and pray that her family's hearts will soften and join her in living the gospel. As of right now though she has been an amazing example to them and is preparing to be baptized on April 26th!!! YAY!

We are also working with a couple other progressing investigators. Anita is an awesome older lady, who recorded conference and watched it all on her own! She hasn't been to church yet but has been reading the BOM and praying :) Bonnie is another lady who I just looove holy cow. She is a riot!! She lives in this super sketchy motel (like seriously it's sketch).. but she wants to change her life and turn it over to the Lord. She is working on overcoming some addictions but is also preparing to be baptized.

Sister Sorenson is a less active sister that we have been working with. It has been way cool to KNOW that we visit at certain times she reaaally needed us. I know that the Lord sent us there and I definitely know that He can guide us to where He needs us most at the time. Anyways, she watched conference for the first time in 30 years!!!! And came to church!! We were SO beyond happy for her.

We had zone conference this past week and it was INCREDIBLE. I looooove meetings with all of the missionaries. There is a Spirit present that is indescribable and I am just beyond grateful for this time that I have as a full time missionary. I thank our Heavenly Father every day for this experience He has given me. I LOVE THE KWM.

There is a super awesome/easy way to share the gospel right now. Go to mormon.org/becauseofHim and share the videos they will be posting this week! Rumor has it that the church has bought out the youtube homepage on Easter!!! The Church is true.

I love you all! Remember our Savior this week, especially with Easter coming up. He does live! I can testify of that.

With love,
Sister Smartt

PS Poor sister Hannah has found out that I sleep teach. #eatbreathsleepmissionarywork

Also, random side note. My ward mission leader for Ridgepoint has a famous little boy!! YouTube "Trick shots with Titus" He is the cutest!!!!

Chubby bunny contest!  Oh Pdays;)

Sis Hannah and I - KWM!!!

Vietnamese dinner - duck eggs and fetus!

Yup - I ate it all!

Duck eggs!!!

Vietnamese dinner started out with "fish eggs" - were told
after it was only basil seeds but the real adventure was the
2nd course!

Okay at your request dad, let's start with our Vietnamese adventure!....

On Friday, Theresa and Victoria fed us. They started out with a glass of "fish eyes" It was just a small amount of liquid with these little squishy things. We drank them right up to find out that they were actually super good. And not fish eyes after all. (Basil seeds?) Next on the course was DUCK EGGS. Blehhhh. Sis H refused to try it after smelling it.. But I wanted to tough it out. Soo we cracked open the shells and were told to break open the yoke and drink it..... Okay WORST texture of my life!!!! Not to mention there were egg shells mixed in it.. Then once we drank all of the "juice" we were supposed to eat the duck fetus. It was pretty nast but I just loved the experience. Also, we made these fish wraps with rice paper and lots of veggies. At least I can say I got a traditional Vietnamese meal in thee one and only Kansas.

Next on the agenda is Marilyn!!! She is doing soo well! And FUNNY CRAP happened this week. Literally. Okay so after zone training on Friday we had an appointment with her and so we walked to her apartment, to meet a member (name will remain confidential). We had an awesome lesson on the Word of Wisdom and read from the Book of Mormon together. In the middle of the lesson our team-up went to use the bathroom.. she was gone QUITE a long while... Then she makes her grand entrance back into the lesson to announce "I clogged your toilet. Also, I broke your plunger and left it in the toilet." She awkwardly sits down and we all just bust up laughing hahahha. Best member present lesson ever. But seriously she is amazing and besides the laughter she caused, she brought the Spirit like nobody's business. The YSA branch is doing such a great job in welcoming Marilyn and helping her to get involved. Although they do owe her a plunger now.

General Conference was amazing!!!! I looove watching conference as a missionary. And maybe I had a slight panic attack when I realized that I won't be a missionary by the next conference. But I still have 18 months left so we don't even need to worry about that. What were all of your favorite talks!?? I honestly think my favorite part about this conference was being able to watch it with Marilyn for her first time. We watched it at President Beeson's house together. (Branch pres.) Taking a step back and realizing how powerful it is and how blessed we are to have a LIVING prophet on the earth today is refreshing. The Spirit that GC brings is soooo amazing and I can honestly say the Lord spoke to me this past weekend.

Elder Perry literally wrote his talk for me. I was so humbled and re-committed to turn my life over to the Lord. Life can be scary and even scarier when we try and figure things out on our own. Now more than ever, I know that we can rely on the Lord to lead and guide us. And to comfort and strengthen us. Our Father in Heaven truly does live and His son, Jesus Christ is our Savior! I know that we can receive guidance through the Holy Ghost if we are quiet enough for the still, small whisperings of the Spirit.

I have been studying a lot in the New Testament and I have to say that one of my new heroes is Paul! I am in Acts right now and his devotion to the Lord and his dedication to preaching the gospel is incredible. He literally sacrificed everything he had. And held NOTHING back.23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I havereceived of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
We are so beyond blessed to have the restored gospel. And I feel soo beyond blessed to be a missionary and representative of Christ's restored church. Time is ticking way too fast.

I love you all!
Sister Smartt

PS shoutout and happy birthday to Kiley!!!! Michelle, Kiley, and Madison who we found and taught in Topeka are getting baptized THIS Saturday. Breaks my heart that I can't be there..... But I am soo so happy for them.